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Budget provisions for fishermen indicative of government neglect of the sector - Martin Ferris TD

Sinn Féin Fisheries spokesman, Martin Ferris TD, said today that the budget 2017 measure of giving a tax credit of €1,270 for fishermen, while welcome, is an allocation of a paltry €4 million and will do little to protect or develop the industry.

Deputy Ferris said:

“There is also a decommissioning fund of €2 million, which is indicative of the trend in government policy on this sector, which is a policy of neglect. There is no attempt to incentivise, encourage or develop the industry, but there is a fund for the decommissioning of boats.

“Fishermen should be entitled to some emergency aid when they are unable to fish and it goes without saying that small-scale fishing and coastal communities need support if they are to survive.

“It is also disappointing that no Brexit strategy was proposed for the fishing industry which cannot fail to be affected if the British fishing fleet regains total control of its own territorial waters.”